The shortage of human resources capable of providing services in French is a real challenge facing our province. If our action plan were implemented today, Prince Edward Island would be unable to fill all the positions required to provide French-language health care services to the public. We therefore need the federal government's support in order to make progress on training in French in the health field.
In Prince Edward Island, the Francophone postsecondary institution Société éducative de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard is not a full-fledged member of the Consortium national de formation en français, the CNFS. Until it becomes one, we'll be facing major barriers to the training and retention of health professionals. Our network is working hard to support the planning and delivery of quality health care services in French that are suited to the local reality and the needs of the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island .
The results of our efforts are obvious when you consider the commitment of our partners. However, you still can't make a lasting change in four years. To achieve that goal, it is important that the federal government provide continuing, long-term support beyond 2008, whether it be through the Société Santé en français, which ensures the operation of networks and improved access to services, or for the Consortium national de formation en santé, which facilitates the recruitment of Francophone professionals through the training offered by its members.
The government of Prince Edward Island is resolutely committed to supporting the vitality of the province's Acadian and Francophone community. The enactment of the French-Language Services Act in 2000 attests to that. The fact that your committee is here in the region shows that you support the vitality of the linguistic minority community that is so important to us.
Thank you.